take Nate,” I say, before hurrying
off to Nate’s room—his surprise is far more appealing to me than Charli’s
replacement 4Life memorabilia.
When I walk through his door, he is already opening the
boxes. “These are awesome!” he says, sheer delight covering his face.
I’m fully aware of how awesome they are, having wanted to
try one out for days. “These are the Walkera HM Airwolfs,” I explain to him.
Nate rotates one of the boxes, taking in the picture.
“Sweet!”
He has no idea just how sweet these babies are.
With both Nate and I sitting on the floor of his room, we
waste no time in putting the remote control helicopters together. Nate hangs
on every word that I say as I instruct him with the assembly of the aircraft. Appreciation
and fondness fill me when I look at him, as I see his mother’s determination
and intelligence, not to mention he has her blue eyes. From the moment I met
Nate—that very first time he came to visit his Mum’s place of work—I couldn’t
help but form a bond with him. He has so much of Alexis flowing through him and
possesses an uncanny ability to read most situations surrounding him. He really
is a smart and loving kid.
“Spin that rotor blade there, Nate,” I instruct.
He does what he’s told then smiles as it spins effortlessly.
“It works!”
“I think we are done,” I say in response and get up from my
seated position on the floor.
“Thanks, Bryce. I like doing these things with you.”
The honesty in his words and on his face pulls at my heart.
I have no doubt that I love him like a father does. But at the same time, I am
fully aware that he has a father, a father that loves him dearly. One thing
that I never want to do is step on Rick’s toes where Nate and Charli are
concerned, but that doesn’t mean I cannot love them and show them both in my
own little way.
“You’re welcome, Mate,” I say as I scruff his hair with my
hand. And, as always, he jerks his head away playfully. “I like doing these
things with you, too. Now, let’s get these babies up in the air where they
belong.”
We place them down on the desk and take a step back,
pointing the radio transmitters in their direction. With a hum and a buzz, both
of them hover off the desk. I take control instantly, circling it around the
room. Nate, however, needing a little longer to perfect his new piloting skills.
Surprisingly though, he takes a lot less time than I expected he would need and,
before I know it, we have them flying beautifully out of the room. Nate follows
me into the passageway, our eyes trained intently on the hovering choppers.
Alexis and Charli duck out of our way with a scream.
“Shit! Sorry,” I smile apologetically.
“My bad!” Nate chimes in a little less remorseful.
Alexis shakes her head and pulls Charli to her side. “I knew
those things were a bad idea. Did you have to buy two of them?”
“Actually...” I reply with a smirk while keeping my vision solely
on my helicopter. I slowly walk past Alexis and Charlotte and head for the
stairs, Nate following in tow. “...I bought four.”
“Four! Why four? I don’t want one,” Alexis exclaims with a
little disgust.
“It’s not for you.”
“Who’s it fo—“ she cuts herself off and sighs. “Bryce, BB’s
not even born yet.”
CHAPTER FOUR
The buzzer to the door sounds, indicating Rick’s arrival to
pick up Nate and Charli for the weekend. Standing in the kitchen, I’m in the
midst of preparing a spinach, cheese, and tomato omelette for Alexis’ lunch,
the dish being high in protein, folic acid, and magnesium which I found out is
not only good for her but also good for our baby.
Wiping my hands on the tea towel, I toss it on the bench top
and head for the lounge. When I walk into the room, I spot Rick behind Alexis,
his hand on her shoulder and the other pushed firmly into her lower back.
Neither of them seem to notice me at first, any as I stand
there watching him place his hands